Go gas to avoid wildfire - solid fuel fire ban (Hume region)

A Solid Fuel Fire Ban is now in force in State forests around Tumut, Tumbarumba, Batlow and Blowering Dam areas and will carry through until March next year.

State Forests’ Resources and Protection manager, Charlie Taylor, said the ban restricts the use of open fires because forest fuels were dry, increasing the risk of campfires escaping into the forests.

“It has been introduced early this year because the forest fuels had dried out during a very dry spring,” he said.

The ban applies to all NSW State forests in the region, which includes pine plantations and native forests.

“Under the seasonal fire ban, all fires using solid fuels such as wood or charcoal are prohibited at all times,” Mr Taylor said.

“The pine plantations and native forests are a highly valuable resource and are particularly important to the regional economy.

“It is essential that every effort is made to reduce the chance of damage to the forests by wildfire.

“Banning solid fuel campfires in the forest areas, helps prevent the chance of a fire escaping and destroying these valuable forests, and also improves safety for forest visitors,” he said.

Mr Taylor said Forests NSW enforced a Solid Fuel Fire Ban when conditions were such that the lighting of fires was likely to result in the ignition of a wild fire.

“These forests are popular with people during the holiday period, and since we introduced the Solid Fuel Fire Bans, they have proved to be very effective in reducing wild fires.

“Gas appliances are not affected by the Solid Fuel Fire Bans, but care should still be taken when using them in the forests. We are asking campers who may be coming into the forests during the summer to bring gas appliances,” he said.

Mr Taylor said the Solid Fuel Fire Ban in State Forests applied every day throughout summer and not just on days of declared Total Fire Ban (TOBAN).

He said that signs warning of the Solid Fuel Fire Ban had been erected on major roads leading into State forests affected by the restrictions.

Failure to comply with the Solid Fuel Fire Ban restrictions carries a maximum penalty of $2200.

For further information about the fire bans, contact Forests NSW Tumut Office on (02) 6947 3911.